Te Kopuru Further Explanations

Recap

Transition Rates Remission Policy Last year we introduced a new rates remission for the stormwater/wastewater increase It is applied to those properties that have an increase of more than $100 and more than 20% of the previous years rates It is to be applied for two years 2013/14 and 2014/15 It was automatically applied to all Te Kopuru ratepayers who are charged both wastewater and stormwater It appeared like this on your rates notice 3

This property received a remission of $31.28 every instalment, total $

The future In 2015/16 the remissions will be phased out For some this may be difficult to afford We are looking at other options and policies to help Te Kopuru ratepayers 5

Te Kopuru/Dargaville Rates have been relatively low YearIndicative Annual Rates Te Kopuru ($50,000 Land Value) Indicative Annual Rates Dargaville ($50,000 Land Value) 2009/10$1,031$1, /11$1,077$1, /12$1,138$1, /13$1,341$1, /14$1,526$1, /15 (proposed) $1,649$2,002 6

Costs

Te Kopuru Wastewater Costs 2012/2013 see separate breakdown 2011/2012 see separate breakdown 2010/2011 see separate breakdown 2009/2010 see separate breakdown 2008/2009 see separate breakdown Total Income from rates 64,031 79,748 76,528 73,469 69,982 Total Operating Expenditure 227,852 91,813 76,835 73,153116,848 Activity Operating surplus/(deficit) (163,821)(12,065)(307)(316)(46,867) 8

Large Wastewater Historical Costs 1981 Sewerage Scheme constructed. Estimate for initial system $243, Wetland (around oxidation pond) Total cost $61, – see attached information 2007/08 Renewal of the Aerial line to the oxidation pond. Estimated around $100,000 – see attached information for $63,000 of these costs 2009/10 Raising and repairs to the oxidation pond waveband $19, – see attached information 2012/13 Desludging of oxidation pond $147, – see attached information 9

Wastewater Future Monitoring Costs Council’s consent with Northland Regional Council requires us to monitor results The Te Kopuru Scheme does not have a discharge measuring device We investigated this in 2012 but no funds were available A discharge measuring device needs to be installed Environmental standards are likely to get tougher 10

Wastewater Costs- Operating Repairs and maintenance – District wide average Management and Administration – District wide average Depreciation – Local Loan repayment – Local These costs are funded from rates Depreciation charged to rates in Te Kopuru totals $38,146 annually 11

Wastewater Costs - Capital Renewal of existing assets - these costs are funded from depreciation charged New assets - these costs are funded from either: - depreciation charged or - loans that are then repaid over time

De-sludging the Ponds De-sludging is an operational cost and should be funded by rates Te Kopuru couldn’t afford to pay this way De-sludging would benefit ratepayers for a number of years Loan was raised in 2013/14 with repayment to be spread over 10 years 13

Wastewater Costs - Capital Te Kopuru’s Waste Water Assets 14 AssetNet Book Value $Depreciation $ Lines238,06824,000 pa Points143,8213,000 pa Treatment Pond601,72311,000 pa Total983,612 NB: Different components have different estimated lifespans and these estimations may change when we revalue them every three years

Te Kopuru’s Depreciation In the 2012/2022 Long Term Plan we consulted on and made a decision to defer fully funding depreciation, in years in which there are no renewals needed, for the first four years. This means we only charged depreciation in a year if there was a need for a renewal. If the cost of the renewal was higher, we borrowed to fund it. 15

Processes

Tender Process for De-sludging Expressions of interest were invited to contractors who had undertaken previous de- sludging Three contractors confirmed they were interested (Hydracare, Aquacare & Northland Waste) Two of the three contractors attended a site meeting Only one tender was received (Hydracare) This was within Council’s engineers estimate Council’s Procurement Policy – see attached 17

Consultation Covered by Section 82 of LGA 2002 Reasonable access to relevant information Encouraged to present views Clear information about the purpose of consultation and scope of decisions to be made Reasonable opportunity to present those views to the local authority Received by local authority with an open mind Given feedback on the relevant decisions made and the reasons for them

KDC Consultation on Draft Annual Plan Council holds pre draft consultation meetings during the year DAP is drafted by staff - Must fit with the Long Term Plan Approved by Auditors Adopted for Consultation (25 February meeting) DAP and Summary circulated and made available (media, libraries, offices, website) Consultation for a month Public meetings around District Specifically affected community meetings (eg Te Kopuru) Submissions made ( , fax, phone, letter, form, online) Hearings held (Dargaville, Mangawhai, Maungaturoto) Issues and Options papers prepared for consideration Deliberation meeting of Council to consider the issues and options Amendments made – checked again by auditors Annual Plan adopted – June Council meeting Feedback letters to all submitters 19

Government Valuations Undertaken by Quotable Value, every three years Use the current market value Due out around early December 2014 Have until late January to object QV may visit a property if they believe the assessed value may be incorrect 20

Rates Rebate Scheme Available for low income ratepayers We will send a form out to all those that have received a rates rebate We will advertise when the new application forms are available, on our website and Dargaville and Districts News - For 2013/14 to date, 49 ratepayers in Te Kopuru have had a rates rebate, totaling $28,700 -The average for Te Kopuru is $585 21

Help Desk We may not have always got it right We have a new Customer Services Manager We have a new Improvement Plan that is being implemented now Ring and talk to a customer services officer Your request should be answered within 2 weeks If its not let us know We are dedicated to improving customer service and we want to get it right! 22

The big picture… Everybody in the District contributes to the big picture Rates pay for our libraries, parks and reserves, public toilets, roads and footpaths We all need to use roads to go to the shops, schools or work The financial situation remains challenging and we need to rate accordingly 23